The honest numbers
How Much Does a Locksmith Cost in Florida?
Typical price ranges for common locksmith work across Florida, so you know what a fair quote looks like before you call anyone. Exact pricing always depends on your lock hardware, vehicle, and location, and a trustworthy locksmith confirms a realistic range on the phone.
These are market-typical Florida figures, not a rate card. Use them to sanity-check any quote you get, from anyone.
2026 ranges
Typical Florida locksmith prices
| Service | Typical range | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Car lockout | $60 – $150 | Time of day, distance, vehicle type |
| House lockout | $60 – $140 | Lock type, time of day, whether picking or drilling is needed |
| Rekey a house (per cylinder) | $20 – $35 per lock + service call | Number of locks, brand, keyed-alike requests |
| New deadbolt installed | $80 – $200 + hardware | Fresh drill-through vs replacing existing, door material |
| Basic car key duplicated | $10 – $30 | Blank type; no-chip keys only |
| Transponder key (spare made) | $120 – $250 | Vehicle make, chip type, dealer-restricted models cost more |
| Key fob / smart key replaced | $150 – $400 | OEM vs aftermarket fob, proximity vs standard, model year |
| All car keys lost (origination) | $200 – $450 | Immobilizer programming from zero; luxury brands run higher |
| Emergency call (nights/weekends) | Add $25 – $75 to daytime rates | Hour, distance, holiday surcharges |
| Commercial lock replacement | $100 – $300 per door + hardware | Grade of hardware, panic bars and closers cost more |
| Access control (per door, installed) | $600 – $2,500+ | Keypad vs card vs biometric, wiring, software licensing |
How to spot locksmith price scams
The locksmith industry has a well-documented bait-and-switch problem: an ad quotes 19 or 29 dollars, an unmarked car shows up, the lock gets drilled "because it could not be picked," and the bill lands at ten times the quote. Three habits protect you:
- Get the total range and the trip fee on the phone before anyone is dispatched, and get the name of the company you are talking to.
- Be suspicious of instant drilling. Most residential and automotive locks open non-destructively; drilling first is a revenue tactic, not a technique.
- Compare any quote against the ranges above. Far below is bait; far above deserves a second call.
Prices by area
Metro pricing tends toward the lower end of each range because drive times are short. See what to expect in Miami, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Tampa, and St. Petersburg, or browse all service areas.
Good to know
Pricing questions, answered
How much is a locksmith service call in Florida?
Most Florida locksmiths charge a service call or trip fee of roughly 25 to 75 dollars that covers coming to you, plus the labor for the job itself. A legitimate company tells you the trip fee and a realistic total range on the phone before dispatching anyone.
Why do online ads say "$19 locksmith"?
That number is bait. The classic scam quotes 19 to 35 dollars online, then the person who shows up demands 150 to 300 dollars in cash for "labor" once your door is open. No real lockout costs 19 dollars. Treat any quote far below the ranges on this page as a warning sign, not a deal.
Is it cheaper to rekey or replace locks?
Rekeying is almost always cheaper. It keeps your existing hardware and changes which key works, typically 20 to 35 dollars per cylinder plus the visit. Replacement makes sense when the hardware is worn, damaged, or you want an upgrade like a smart lock.
How much does it cost to unlock a car?
A typical Florida car lockout runs 60 to 150 dollars depending on city, hour, and distance. It is far cheaper than a broken window, which usually costs 200 to 400 dollars to replace.
What affects car key replacement cost the most?
Whether you still have a working key. Duplicating an existing key is the cheap version. Losing every key means the immobilizer must be programmed from scratch at the car, which is the expensive version. The vehicle brand is the other big factor.